Griddle



March 14, 1933. M. w. McARDLE GRIDDLE Filed July 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheetl v $6 M s 20,414 m-,% W gag- March 14, 1933. M. w. MCARDLE 1,901,314

GRIDDLE I Filed July 3, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1933. M. w. MARDLE 1,901,314

GRIDDLE Filed July 3, 1930 3 sheets-shget 3 amma Mai-.14, 1oz:

mm s'ra'ras PATENT orrica new w. Immorcincaeo, rumors Gamma Applicationam my aim. Serial Io. 405,511.

My invention relates to griddles and has particular reference to theso-called waflle 11011 type wherein a pair of corrugated irons areplaced in juxtaposition and are adapted 5 to receive a suitable dou h orbattertherebetween, the irons being eated to cook the batter to form afood product.

It is becoming customer to pre of the light foods direct y at re manydining table during the mealin which they are to be eaten, in order toavoid a great deal of work in moving back and forth between the diningtable and the stove, and to insure the freshness of the food article.This is the case with various types of griddle cakes wa-flle ironwherein the container for the batter and the cooking elements arearranged in a single composite assembly.

I have further aimed to provide in a single unit, cooking elements, acontainer for the batter to be used upon the cooking elements, and meansfor transferring a desired quantity of batter from the container to theelements. Another object of my invention is to provide a unitaryassembly of this type wherein the container for the batter is removablysecured within the base of the assembly whereby it may easily be removedfor mu:-

ing the batter and for cleaning purposes after use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a unitary assemblyof this type wherein the container for the batter, and the means fortransferrin the batter from the container to the cooking elements arecompletely concealed during the normal operation of the wafle iron,whereby the assembly may present an ornamental aprance. i still furtherobject of the invention is the provision of a unitary assembly 'of thischaracter wherein all of the parts are easily accessible and removablefrom the base:

I have also aimed to provide an improved measuring scoop fortransferring a desired quantity of batter from the container to thecooking element. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved containerhaving shape characteristics causing it to be firmly secured within thebase of the assembly and causing it to rest upright upon a flat surfacewhen removed from the base.

Other objects and attendant advantages I i will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the ollowing description and the accompanyingclaims in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through the center ofthe griddle;

-Fi 2 is a top view showing the upper grid e and the supporting flange;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe griddle partly in section showing thescoop in a position to discharge upon the lower cooking 7 element;

Fig. .4 is a front view of the griddle partly in section showing themanner in which the crank is secured; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the container showing the shapecharacteristics thereof 3 which cause it to rest upright upon a levelsurface.

The invention contemplates the provision of at least one air of cookingelements or so-called wafile irons electricall heated by 35 suitableresistance coils and insu ated to prevent the dissipation of an excessquantity of heat. The cooking elements are suitably supported upon abasewhich is provided with at least one removable container for holdingthe batter to be used with the cooking elements. Means are provided fortransporting desired quantities of the batter to the cooking elements.The device is so arranged that the container for the batter and thebatter transferring means are complete-v l concealed during the normaloperation of t e griddle.

-Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1,

the griddle includes abowl-like base inthe form of a tra having asuitable footing 9. A rubber cus ionin ring may be rovided at the lowere ge of the foot 9 i desired, to provide a cushion contact with thesupport or table. Upper and lower cooking elements or grids aredesignated respectively b the numerals 11 and 12.

T e u per cookin element 11'is provided with a acing mem r 13 havingcorrugaranged in the shape 'the top of the faclng member 13 in anydetions 14 in the surface thereof for the purpose of givin suitableshape to the waflle to be forme against this surface. The member 13 issecured in a casing 15 in any suitable manner as, for example, by screwsor the like not shown. A heating element 16, which in this particularinstance is arof a ring, is secured to 17 and the top of the casing-15may be filled with asuitable insulatin materialto prevent heat frombeing dissipated in this area.

. The heating element 16-is attached to a suitable source of electricalenergy through wires 21 and bolts 22. While the casing 15 maybe of anysuitable or desired shape, in this instance I have-shown it as beingcircular, as shown in Fig. 2, and having an outstanding flange 23aadapted to project laterally outward'over the up er edge of the base 8.This flan exten s from a point 23 at one side 0 the casing to a point24, around substantially the front half of the casing 15. The casing 15being smaller in circumference than the upper edge of the base 8 theflange 23 serves to conceal the upper edge of the base and to preventthe interior of the base from being visible.

7 The lower cooking element 12 is provided with a facing member 25similar to the fac- 7 ing member 13 of the upper cookin element and -isso positioned that the cing member 13 will rest thereon when the twocooking elements are in contact. Corruga thins 26 serve to provide thedesired shape characteristics to the food product beingcooked thereon.The facing element 25 is secured in a lower casing 27 in an suitable ordesired manner. A heating e ement 28 is positioned on the lower side ofthe facing member 13 and isadapted to provide heat thereto for thecooking operations. A metal sheet 29, securedto the facing member 25through a screw I 30 passing through the sheet and into a projectioni 31of the facing member 25, serves to secure the heating element 28 againstthe facing member 13 and .vided with an upper rolled. "edge to partiallysupport the container' upon the.-

provide an air chamber 32. Suitable in,- sulating material is positionedin thespace 33 between the sheet 29*and the casing 27.

Electrical energy is supplied to the heating casing 27 thereon andconceal the contentsof the base from view. The flange 36 extends from apoint 37 to a point 38 on the rear side of the casing and is provided ateach end with a depression 39 to permit the flange 23 to overlap theformer.

The flange 36 is fixedly secured to an elec trical socket 40 which isprovided with downwardly extending ears 41 pivotally se cured to anupstanding bracket 42 by means of a-pin 43. The bracket 42 is fixedlysecured to the base 8 through rivets 44. The

lower cooking element 12 is thus free to rotate about the pin 43 betweena sition partially covering the top of the ase 8 and a position leavingthe top of this base completely exposed, the element 12 occupying asubstantially vertical position in the latter instance. he upper cookinelement 11 is pivotally secured to the soc et 40 throu h cars 45extending on either'side of the soc et and pins 46, the cooking element11 being free to rotate on the pins 46 between a horizontal position asshown in Fig. 1, and a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig.3. The socket 40 is provided with conventional contact pins 47 adaptedto engage a conventional electrical plug, bolts and nuts 48 at the rearend thereof serving to hold the pins 47 in position upon the support 49and to connect the wires 21 and 34 thereto. A handle 50 may be suitablyse cured to the front of the flange 23 to be grasped with the hand inmoving the upper co oking element 11 from the closed position as shownin Fig. 1 to the open position as shown in Fig. 3. w

A metal strip 361; extends from the flange 36 to the side of the casing27 at the rear of the latter beneath the socket 40. and serves toenclose the wires 34 to prevent the batter from. coming in contacttherewith. A container or batter bowl des generall by the numeral 51' isada ted to rest wit in the bowl shaped base 8 the cooking elements 11and 12 and is pro- 52 adapted upper edge 53 of the base 8,- as shown inFigs. 1 and 4. The rear side of-the container 51 is provided with aleg'54 adaptedto act in supporting the container when ie ignated mbvedfrom the base 8 as shown-in 'Fi 5. v

and arranged to engage an opening 55 in'the neath 2- positioned withinthe base to position the ormer therein. The forward side of thecontainer is provided with an outwardly projecting channel 56 adapted tobe received m a correspondingly shaped outwardly projecting channel 57on the forward side of the base 8. When the container is positioned withthe base 8 the channel 56 and the leg 54 serve to properl position thecontainer 10 therein. On the ot er hand, when the container 51 is restedupon a flat surface, as, for

example, when being cleaned or when batter is being prepared therein,the leg 54 and the bottom of the channel 56 serve to support thecontainer in an upright sition.

The sides of the container 51 are flattened at 58 and 59, Fig. 4, andare provided with bearings 60 and 61; to receive bearing pins 62 and.63. These bearing pins are connected 20 by means of a rod 64 havingcrank portions 65 and 66 at opposite ends thereof. A scoop or ladledesignated generally by the numeral- 67 is positioned at the center ofthe rod 64, the rod 64 being so bent as to cause the of the container51.

The scoop 67 has a back member 68 of general rectangular shape, bentthrough an arc alon its lengthwise direction. The rear end of t e backportion 68 is provided with a latch 69 secure thereto by means of rivets70. The side edges of the portion 68 are ro'vided with downwardlyprojecting edges 1 having outwardly projecting fingers72 near the frontend thereof. A second rtion 73 of rectangular cross-section and avingside walls 74 and 75 and an end wall 76 is positioned opposite the backportion 68 i of the soot) The side walls 74 and 75 are ceive the'fingers72 on the edges. 71 of the back rtion 68 and the end portion 76 is rovied with a de ression 77 into which the atch 69 is adapts to be-receivedtom'ainu tain the 6 rs 72 within theopenin in the side wal 74 and 75,thus releasab y securin ghthe portion 73 to the back portion 68. isscoop closel fits the channel '56 and is movable along e latter from thereno tracted position shown in Fi 1 to thedischarging position shown inig. 3, byjrotation of the bearing pins 62 and 63' within the bearingscontainer .51.

U A crank 78 having a handle 79 thereon is rotatably secured in the sidewall of the base 8 t rough a sleeve 80 within which the shank 81 thereofis arran to rotate A spring detent 82 is ada to-engage either of twogrooves 83 and 84' of the shank 81 to permit the crank 78 to be drawnoutward so that the tongue85 disengages a groove 86 of the pin 62 or maybe moved inward e gmg-t. cr a nk78theseoop67maybecausedtomove vsitionshown in Fig. 3.

scoop 67 to closely fit within the channel 56 eachprovi ed with openingsadapted to re- 60 and 61 in the sides of the be same. By operation oftheshown in Figs. 1 and 4 to the osition shown in Fig. 3, the scoopbeing loa ed with batter v held in the container '51 during its movementalon the lower portion' of the channel 56, and ischarging the batteronto the cooking element 12 when it reaches the po- In 0 ration mdevicewill be seen to be exceedingly simp e and expedient. Durin thestorage period the griddle parts wil occupy the position shown in Figs.1 and 2, whereinthe interior of the base 8, is completely concealed bythe upper cooking element 11 and the outwardly extending flanges 23 and36, the former attached to the upper cooking element 11 and the latterto the lower cooking element 12. These elements may be given variousdecorative configurations as. indicated at 87 and 88.-

When the griddle is to be used the operator asps the handle 50 liftingthe upper cooking element 11 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Theoperator may then, by grasping the front end of the lower cookingelement 12, rotate both of the elements about the bearing pin 43 to ,aposition exposing the entire interior of-the base 8. In this positionthe crank 78 may be drawn outwa releasing the tongue of the handle fromthe The container 51 may then be wlthdrawn from the base. .By springingthe sides 58 and 59 of the container outward the rod 64 may be removedfrom the container 51 carrying with it the scoop 67. The container 51may then be used as shown in Fig. 5, for the preparation of the desiredbatter in the usual'manner.

The scoop 67 may then be replaced within the container 51 and the wholeagain be inserted in the base 8 of the device. The crank 78 is movedinward causing the tongue 85 to enga e the groove 86, and the lowercooking e ement 12 is lowered to the position shown. in Fig. 3. Thegriddle is move 86 of the bearing pin 62.

then ready for operation and a' plug connected to a suitable source ofelectrical energy is inserted into the socket 40 whereby the cookingelements 11 and 12 are permitted to heat up under the action of theheating elements. When the cooking elements have reached a suitabletemperature, operation of the crank 78 will move the scoop 67 from. theIposition shown in Fig. .1 to that shownin ig. 3, carrying with it ameasured quantity of batter and depositing it upon the lower cookingelement 12. Since the batter is ordinarily relatively thin it will flowfrom the point of discharge and; cover the entire lower cooking element.This however, is immaterial in the case" of waflle irons since the upperelement 11 is then'lowcred upon the lower cooking element 12, and thecontact of the two elements will cause the batter to be thoroughlydistributed therebetween.

The cooking elements remain in this 0- sition untif the waflleiscompletely coo ed and is ready for removal from between the cookingelements, when the element 11 is lifted by means of the handle and thewafile removed. The cooking elements may be recharged with fresh batterif desired or the upper cooking element 11 may be lowered to theposition shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that in this operativeposi-.. tion the interior of the base 8 is completely concealed fromview and that the raising of the upper. cooking element,'which mustneccessarily be done to charge the griddle, also uncovers the upper endof the channel 56 and permits the scoop 67 to be rejected therefrom. Therear part of the base 8 is covered at all times when the lower cookingelement 12 is in place.

The advantages'of my invention will be .readily apparent. All of theequipment necessary for the making of waflles or other griddle cakes ofsimilar nature are contained in a unitary structure. The batter and allportions of the structure liable tocontamination by the batter areconcealed from. view at all times except when the griddle is actuallybeing charged.

The container and the scoop are readily removable from the base of thegriddle for cleaning 'purpoms and for the purpose of preparing thebatter in the first instance.

The scoop ma be made of suitable size to carry just su cient batterto'fill the spacebetween the cooking elements whereby the messinesscaused by misjudging the (18112? of batterto be placed therein is 9 viathe same quantity of batter being automatically measured and depositedupon the lower cooking element by sucli' rotation of the and lowergrids, an open top crank on the side of the griddle.

The container is so shaped as to be auto-' matically secured within thebase and to rest upright when placed upon a flat surface. The scoop isformed to be readily disassembled for cleaning and to be readilyremovable from the container to permit t e batter to be'made up in thecontainer an to permit the container tobe easily cleaned.

While I have thus described and illustrated a, specific embodiment of myinvention I am aware thatnumerousialterations and changes may be madetherein without materially de arting from the scope of my invention an Ido not wish to be limited except, as required by the prior art and thescope of the appended claimsin which- I claim: a 1. An electric griddlecomrising up r hatter bow a;

tray having afbowl su porting portion, said grids being suppo over saidbowl and. means connecting-the grids: to the tray, the

to an batter bowl being positioned on said bowl supporting portion withthe grids located 2?) a? to normally close the top of the batter 2. Anelectric griddle com rising up r and lower grids, an open top hatterbowl: a tray having ,a bowl supporting portion, said grids beingsupported over said bowl, and means connecting the ids to the tray, thebatter .bowl being positioned on said bowl supporting portion with thegrids located so as to normally close the top of the batter bowl,said'means swung as a unit om said normal position to a positionexposing the top of the batter bowl to permit access'thereto.

3. An electric griddle comprising upperand lower ids, an open top batterbowl, :1. tray having a, bowl su porting portion, said grids beingsupported over said bowl, and means connecting the grids to the tray,the batter bowl .being positioned on said bowl supporting portion withthegrids located so as tonormally close the top of the batter bowl, saidmeans permittin the grids to be swung as a unit from sai normal positionto a position exposing the top of the batter bowl to permit accessthereto, and said means permitting the top grid to be independentlyswung .from a closed position. on the lower grid to an open position topermit transfer of batter from the batter bowlto the lower grid.

4L An electric griddle comprising a base in the form of a tray having abowl su porting portion and an upstanding grid support at on"e side ofthe bowl supporting permitting the grids to be portion, an open-topbatter bowl removably' said" grid supporting portion, the u per gridbeing pivotally mounted to swing rom a lower closed position on thelower grid u right open ition, said batter bowl and said grids ingconstructed so that the to openingvof the batter bowl is normally 0 osedby said grids and the top 'd is movable with respect to the batter wl toexpose said opening thereof and permit transfer of batter from said bowlto the lower rid. 4

5. An e 'ectric griddle comprising abuse in the form; of a tray having abowl supporting portion and an upstanding grid support at one side ofthe bowl supporting portion an open top batter bowl removably sup diedon said tray, upper and lower normall overlying t e batter bowl, theupper gri being pivotally mounted on said grid sup rting portion, theupper grid being pivota y mountedto swing from a lower closed positionon the lower grid to an upri ht open position, said batter bowl and saigrids being constructed so that the movable with respect to the batterbowl to .expose said openin thereof and permit transfer of batter romsaid bowl to the lower grid, and a ladle normall concealed in the batterbowl and movable t rough said accessible top opening for transferringbatter from said bowl to said grid.

6. An electric griddle comprising upper and lower grids, an open topbatter bowl, a support on which the batter bowl rests, and meansnormally supporting the rids on said su port in a closed position aiovethe batter wl so that said grids will conceal the open top of said bowl,said grids being mounted to be swung as a unit about a pivot axis toexpose the open to of the batter bowl, and the up r grid being mountedto be independent y swung about a difierent pivot axis to anopen sltionin which batter may be transferre from the bowl to the lower grid.

7. An electric griddle comprising an 'open top batter bowl, a supportfor said bowl, and upper and lower grids mounted on( said support in aposition normally closing the open top of the batter bowl,-one of saidgrids being movable with respect to the bowl to 'exposethe open topthereof so that batter may be transferred from the bowl to the lowergrid.

8. An electric griddle comprising an open top batter bowl, a support forsaid bowl, and upper and lower grids mounted on said support in aposition normallyclosing the open top of the batter bowl, one of saidgrids being movable with respect to the bowl to expose the open topthereof so that batter may be transferred from the bowl to the lowergrid, a ladle normally positioned in the bottom of the batter bowl, andmeans .op erable to move said ladle in a fixed path back and forthbetween its said normal position and a batter discharging position abovethe lower grid.

9. An electric griddle comprising an open top batter bowl, a support forsaid bowl,

and upper and lower grids mounted on the. support in a position normallyclosing the.

open top of the-batter bowl, one of said grids being movable withrespect to the bowl to expose the open top thereof so that batter may betransferred from the bowl to the lower grid, a ladle normally positionedin the bottom of the batter bowl, and means operable to move said ladlein a fixed path back and forth between its said normal position and abatter discharging position above the lower grid, includin a support forthe ladle mounted to oscil ate about a pivot axis in proximity to thegirds.

10. An electric griddle comprising upper and lower grids, an open topbatter bowl,

in a position closing the open top of the batterbowl, said meanspermitting said grids to be swung as a unit away from said position togive access to the open top of the batter-bowl, and the upper grid beinmounted to independently swing back an forth between a closed positionand the lower grid to an upright open position.

11. An electric griddle comprising up r and lower grids pivotallyconnected toget er so that the upper grids may be swung back and forthbetween closed and open positions, an open top batter bowl, and meanssupporting the grlds in a position over the bowl so that the grids closethe open top of the bowl, and means permitting the grids to be swun outof said position to give access to. sai open top of the bowl.

12. An electric griddle comprising upper,

and lower grids oonsti'tutin a rid unit, the upper grid of which is movale rom a closed position on the lower grid to an open posi tion awayfrom the lower grid, an open to batter bowl, and means supporting saidgri unit above and in proximity to the batter bowl, said grid unithaving a peripheral flange overlying the peripheral portion of the opentop bowl and serving with the grid unit to close the open top of saidbowl, and means permitting relative movement between the grid unit andthe bowl to expose the open top of the bowl for access thereto.

13. An electric griddle comprising agrid, a batter bowl located beneaththe grids and having a bottom. rtion curved downwardly in a verticalane, and a ladle having acurved bottom to fit said curvature of the bowland operable to transfer batter from the bowl to the grid.

14. An electric griddle comprising a grid,

a batter bowl located beneath the grids and having a bottom portioncurved downwardly in a vertical plane, a ladle having a curved bottom tofit said curvature of the bowl, and means 0 table to move said ladle ina fixed path bac and forth between a position in the bottom of the bowlin said curved ing position above the grid.

15. An electric griddle comprising a grid, a batter bowl located beneaththe grid, 11 ladle having arcuate sides and open only at one end, saidladle being normall positioned in the bottom of the bowl, an meansoperable to move the ladle in an arcuate path approximately coincidentwith its arcuate sides back and forth between said normal position and abatter discharging position above the grid.

In witness of the foregoing I aflix my signature.

MICHAEL W. McABDLE.

and means normally supporting said grids portion thereof to a batterdischarg-

